Mysterious Edit

Most artworks contain an element of mystery. As written by Cennino Cennini in his 15th-century artist's guide The Craftsman's Handbook, the concept of mystery can be defined as “the art of eliciting unseen things hidden in the shadow of natural ones, and serving to demonstrate as real the things that are not." This mystery, by suggesting that there is something more behind the surface, draws us into a work and makes us want to know more. 

Artworks that privilege the mysterious are far from new. The Dutch painter Hieronymous Bosch produced disturbing and dream-like works in the 15th and 16th centuries, such as his famous work The Garden of Earthly Delights. This triptych uses strange, imagined imagery to illustrate humanity's descent into Hell where humans are punished for their sins. 

The mysterious has been explored by artists throughout art history, still being used frequently by artists today. At Artsper, we have curated a selection of works in different mediums that are inspired by the unseen, the imagined, and the unexplained. In the photographic works of Dina Goldstein, the viewer is confronted with cinematic scenes that conjure strange narratives and dream-like worlds. Approaching the concept of mystery from a different perspective, French artist François Cognet paints somber and distorted portraits that evoke a dark side of the human psyche. Discover our whole selection of mysterious artworks today!